New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-21
WAS 1T A ROBBERY SCHEME
MR.. LANoUETrE DEcoYED TO SING SING.
A BOGUS TELEGRAM sENT--Two SUSPICIOUS MEN
AND THEIR STRANGE ACTIONS.

A BOGUS TELEGRAM sENT--Two SUSPICIOUS MEN
AND THEIR STRANGE ACTIONS
Thebaud w. Lanouette is q costumer and lives
with his wife at No. 125 Fifth-ave.. in Handsomely
furnished apartments over his place OF business. lie
has a son, William, young man, who has been
student at the Holbrook Institute near Sing Sing ior
abuut year. William is tall, strong, and healthy aud
every thing supposed to be going yell with him.
Mr. Lanouette Was startled abont o'clock on Thurs
day evening by telegram from Sing Sihg, which sad
that his son had met with An accident ana was
dangerouily injured, and urged both Mr.. Lanouette
and bis wife to to the school quickly as pos
siolc. 1t signed by DIR. Holbrook, who conducts
the school
Madame Lanouette got ready to 60 to her son, but
before the time for starting came, she was completely
prostrated by the sad newa and had to abandon the
trip. Mr.. Lunoue.tc did not wish to leave his wie
alone With servant but che urged him to go to their
boy. lie caught the train leaving the Grand Central
Station at few minutes after ii o'clock Two
strange the train watched Mr.. Lanouette
cosely all the way to Sing Sing and hen the tram
arrived there at 1890 a. IN. the two 90 Of just
behind him. Mr.. Lanouette not being able to get
carriage at the station. went up the street snort
distance to Powell's Hotel The two strangers fol
low him closely but Mr.. Lanouette was absorbed
In thinking his SON he did not notice them parcu-
larly Louis Decker the clerk OF the hUtel, had not
gone to bed when Mr.. Lanouetto told his story,
the clerk obtained Mr.. Powells consent to take Mr.
Lanouette TO the school, several miles away Iii the
proprietors private carriage.
The two strangers paid close attention to what MI
Lanouette had said and when the carriage was driven
up the door, one OF the men, who sad that he was
John Winter, OF Yonkers, walked out on the porch ana
offered Decker SIS to drive him TO lonkers. Inc
school is on the road to Yonkers, and as Mr.. La
uouette had objection to the stranger riding with
him. Decker consented. aud tho three men went away
at a rapid pace Winter who Tad been taikatVe
before the carriage started, as soon as 1t got out OF
sight of the hotel became silent and would not answer
Of 10 tnA N
institute Decker pulled up the horse and demanded
the money that Winter had agreed to pay. They had
n quarrel about the money, which ended oy decker
putting the stranger oct ot the carriage and leaving
him in the road In ten minutes more the carriage
wa, driven into the school yard and Mr.. L'nouette
got out and rang the bell vigorously. IL was after
2 a H. and there was not sound within. Alter
pulling the bell and pounding the door Tor halt an
hour without rousug any one. Mr. Lanoue'te decideu
TO 90 back to the hotel and wait till daylight
As Mr. Lanouettc and Decker got into the carriage
Winter appeared and forcing his way past Mr. La
nouefte in the cooly took seat and said that
ne would take a ride back. No objection was offered
and the carriage started back. The night was dark
but the horse knew the way and went along NJ good
mace The carriage came TO place where the road
runs through n clump OF trees and in the shadow II
was extremely dark. The horse seemed worried about
some thing. and slowed up a. II frightened Nlh'er,
who had been quiet mp to this point suddenly shO"eu
signs OF activity and bis movements were OF such
suspcious nature that Decker, who had been cossly
watching him. dropped the reins. pulled n revolver
from his pocket held it close to the suspected man
head and ordered him out OF the wagon winter u'u
dot stir . =, g., r.t
Get ont, or will ill you iull of lead said Decker
cooking the weapon. -.
senses and he got out and quickly disappeared among
the trees. Nothing more was seen OF him on the way
back to the hotel. -
learned, after Winter lett him. went proving around
the hotel. His movements were watched and ~ was
l.nF Tnlll a.
Decker returned and heard of the mans conduct be
pui the fellow into room and locked the dOOr, IN
tending 20 keen him until daylight AMI turn him over
to the auihorlt es as suspicious person. "beh tIo
door was opened the man jumped outoi the room ran
out the hotel and got out OF sight before tho'e VINO
saw him had time to collect their thought'' "
Mr.. Lsnouctte went to the school again about
a. u DR.. Holbrook got mp aud expressed surprise at
seeing his visitor at such an hour MT i%ap3u"''o
nguired anxiousy afler his son. Dr. Hoibrook as
sured him that his in bed, sleeping souhdIy'
The yolnr man was awakened and III low moments
came into the reccpon-room in his usual good health
DR. Hobrook read tho telegram porting TO DC
signed by him and astouuded. such tnlng had
never occurred in his school before ana ne nd not
think that il was Joke played by any OF the students
He inquired among the BOYS, but coud not learn
anything. lie kept the telegram as IL iuthisneu
stattlag point To ferret out the mystery ana nier
breakfast consulted the police authorizes NJ sing
Sinr Detectives were put on the case. go .
Mr. Lanouette found bis wife exceedingly III on MS
retnrn to mi. CITY Yesterday morning and even the
assurance that William VAS ali night couiu NOT r"i'y
her IL. = Ill
IL is Mr. Lanocctte : OpN1loh lhat 'ho -,
Ing both him aud his wife away by PRETENDING tput
William was sick robbery. IL they had goho
a.ay no one would have been in tho house out
serya,t and the valuable stock in tie dressmaking
cspblishment would have been at the mercy o,
tbisves Madame Lanouette's remaining frustrated
The plan Winter and his friend are thought To DC
part OF the same gang. Some one must nave been
familiar with the home OF Mr. Lanouette 10 form h'
MAN and a young man named Smyth Is suspected OF
knowing something about the case He VAS formerly
FRIEND of Mr.. Lanousttes son and was sent 10 tno
nenitentiary on Blackwells leland some time ago Ior
81 ealing from his employer.